Senator Cory Gardner, a Republican from Colorado, is backing federal legislation that would allow state-legal marijuana businesses to claim tax deductions and credits.

Gardner said Wednesday that he would sign on as a co-sponsor of the Small Business Tax Equity Act, which was introduced earlier this year by Senators Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, and Rand Paul, R-Kentucky. The bill would create an exception to Internal Revenue Code 280E, which currently disallows credits and deductions from income generated by sales of controlled substances.

“Our current tax code puts thousands of legal marijuana businesses throughout Colorado at a disadvantage by treating them differently than other businesses across the state,” Gardner said in a statement emailed to The Cannabist. “Coloradans made their voices heard in 2012 when they legalized marijuana, and it’s time for the federal government to allow Colorado businesses to compete.

“This commonsense, bipartisan bill will allow small businesses in Colorado and other states that have legal marijuana businesses to grow their operations, create jobs, and boost the economy.”

Gardner noted that some of these deductions and credits could include normal business expenses and for activities such as the hiring of U.S. veterans.

Gardner will become the sixth senator and the second Republican senator to co-sponsor Senate Bill 777. Other co-sponsors include Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colorado; Patty Murray, D-Washington; Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon; and Al Franken, D-Minnesota.

Alicia Wallace joined The Cannabist in July 2016, covering national marijuana policy and business. In her 14 years as a business news reporter, her coverage has spanned topics such as the economy, natural foods, airlines, biotech, retail,…